A long glamp weekend in the GSMNP pic heavy

Ikarus1

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My wife and I plus the youngest son just got back from a long weekend in Maggie Valley.
My son recently had ACL surgery and this was our chance to spoil him with a trip!
While I would like to say we actually "camped", we glamped and stayed in a 1 room chalet in a campground full of "park campers" by the stream. That allowed us to do some things we never get to do.

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Like ride the GSMR train down to Nantahala and raft back to the NOC!
Was worth every penny IMO. Our guide Drew just graduated from NC State and he was the lead guide at the NOC. He was the best, and we had him and the boat to ourselves. We had never really been whitewater rafting just tubing on New river and canoeing on local rivers. I love the Nantahala area and we will be going back asap. I highly recommend the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
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We had perfect August weather around 85deg and the water was 55 degrees and awesome.
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A quick stop at the local Brewpub and we were back in Maggie for the firepit session.
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Next day: Sevierville and Pigeon Forge
First stop...GMSKW. We couldnt talk the Misses into Buds gun shop this time but that will be next trip. From what I have heard it's not really a must if you have your own range anyhow ;)
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Then of course, Applewood @ the apple barn. Best friend chicken in TN I think.

Wife made us go to the outlets for "back to school shopping" but somehow that included a Coach bag. She did mention she needed one that held a gun so she got a pass lol.

Then today, the part that included more outdoors....we went to Cataloochie and met some of the Caldwell family that used to live in the valley. They had the big Cataloochie reunion but we didn't eat with them even though we were invited. Looks like a huge crowd from all over now.
Went on down to the Caldwell place and parked then walked up the trails looking for critters. We found some!
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Lots of Turkeys. A 200lb bear on the way back down. Then a 15 animal herd of Elk. Pretty sure we were the only ones to see any Elk today during the day. My son was off the chart excited to see a bear on the trail. The wife was nervous a little. I was surprised and thrilled to see one on trail in the middle of the day. We are going to camp and hike for a week there next summer. @chiefjason Is Caldwell fork where yall camp and hike?

Anyhow long quick weekend to end the summer and start the fall season right
 
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That is awesome. My wife & I want to basically do the same & trailer my Super Glide down there (with her autoimmune issues, the ride down would wipe her out) to visit the Wheels Through Time museum & spend a few days just exploring the back roads in the area.
 
We camp in the main campground in the valley. But I've hiked all over there. Heck, we might be related. I'm related to the Palmers. Got a great, great, ??? aunt buried above the visitors center. IIRC, the visitor center was her house. We happened to be camped up there reunion weekend and I took the girls up there. Talked to a lady that is the grand daughter of the woman I'm related too, named after her too.
 
Looks like a great trip. That area is gorgeous.
 
I was in the area on Saturday. I was surprised at how deserted the BRP was. We could hold a steady 60 mph and not be slowed by cars! I only had to pass on the double yellow a couple of times because the few folks that were there were using the turnouts to let us by. There was a stoppage at 441 but it was probably tourons looking at elk. I got in a quick 500 mile ride on the bike from Charlotte up to Maggie to meet a friend for some good backroads and then back home by 6.
 
Yeah we saw lots of bikes all over. I grew up going to Maggie with my grandparents and camping at the same campground and tubing in the same creek. NOT ONCE did we ever go to the Cataloochie Valley, and maybe Pigeon Forge one time.

Also I forgot to mention that when we left Pigeon Forge on Saturday, I went past the Douglas Dam area and we rode thru Dandridge TN. Pretty nice little town, and they built a nice floating public dock on the lake there. May have to put that one
on the potential retirement area list but it's too close to I-40 for my taste :D
 
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